Brentford vs Portsmouth Preview

12 April 2013 06:43

Viewed : 58

A new era begins at Griffin Park.

Pompey will be hoping to cap a week of good news by coming away from Brentford with three points tomorrow.

Team News

Patrick Agyemang will return to the starting eleven after not being ble to play against Stevenage last weekend. Ricardo Rocha is rated 50/50 due to a hamstring injury with Sam Sodje or Adam Webster ready to replace him.

Brentford will have a near full strength squad available with Harry Forrester looking to regain his place in midfield after being dropped for the midweek win at Crewe.

The Match

The atmosphere at Griffin Park tomorrow should be brilliant after the news that the Trust will finally buy the club after Balram Chainrai agreed to sell his charge on Fratton Park over to them.

With Portpin seemingly gone, Portsmouth Football Club my finally be able to prosper again after three years of suffering. The recovery could begin tomorrow with a win against high-flying Brentford.

There's still a chance that Pompey could avoid starting next season with a points deductionif they can finish 20th in League One and force the Football League to take the ten points away this season instead.

Realistically, Guy Whittingham's men will have to win the last three games and hope Oldham and Scunthorpe do not win more than two of their remaining games.

Confidence is high after a five game unbeaten run and Agyemang's return will be a welcome boost after Pompey's attack looked blunt against Stevenage.

However, Brentford can boast a fine run of form themselves and are extremely strong at home, making this the toughest of Pompey's three remaining games.

But who knows? The news this week may galvanise a team that has been playing well and could inspire an unlikely win in West London.

It'll be a great occasion whatever happens but hopefully there'll be even more reason to celebrate on Saturday night.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Brentford

GK: Simon MOORE

RB: Shaleum LOGAN

CB: Harlee DEAN

CB: Tony CRAIG

LB: Jake BIDWELL

RM: Sam SAUNDERS

CM: Jonathan DOUGLAS

CM: Tom ADEYEMI

LM: Adam FORSHAW

CF: Clayton DONALDSON

CF: Bradley WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

Pompey

GK: Simon EASTWOOD

RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL

CB: Ricardo ROCHA

CB: Gabor GYEPES

LB: Shaun COOPER

RM: Liam WALKER

CM: Therry RACON

CM: Johnny ERTL

LM: Jed WALLACE

CF: Patrick AGYEMANG

CF: David CONNOLLY

Last Time: Brentford 4 Portsmouth 1 (Division One - 01/09/1992)

Kit Symons gave Pompey the lead from a corner but the Bees soon swarmed Jim Smith's men when Mickey Bennett equalised before the break.

Neil Smillie gave Brentford the lead with a bizarre goal which saw the ball bounce past a bemused Alan Knight and then goals from Marcus Gayle and Gary Blissett sealed an emphatic defeat.

My Prediction

Brentford are great at home but we've been to some tough places such as Tranmere and Doncaster when they were top of the table and got a result. I think we'll get a result at Griffin Park too.